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Olympic Games

Organizations

Charter ● IOC ● NOCs ● Symbols Sports ● Competitors Medal ● tables ● Medalists ● Ceremonies ● Bidding

Games

Ancient Olympic Games Summer Olympic Games Winter Olympic Games Paralympic Games Youth Olympic Games

The Olympic Games (French: les Jeux olympiques, JO) is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games are considered to be the world's foremost sports competition and more than 200 nations participate. The Games are currently held biennially, with Summer and Winter Olympic Games alternating, meaning they occur every four years within their respective seasonal games. Originally, the ancient Olympic Games were held in Olympia, Greece, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894. The IOC has since become the governing body of the Olympic Movement, whose structure and actions are defined by the Olympic Charter.

The evolution of the Olympic Movement during the 20th and 21st centuries has resulted in several changes to the Olympic Games. Some of these adjustments include the creation of the Winter Games for ice and winter sports, the Paralympic Games for athletes with a physical disability, and the Youth Olympic Games for teenage athletes. The IOC has had to adapt to the varying economic, political, and technological realities of the 20th century. As a result, the Olympics shifted away from pure amateurism, as envisioned by Coubertin, to allow participation of professional athletes. The growing importance of the mass media created the issue of corporate sponsorship and commercialization of the Games. World Wars led to the cancellation of the 1916, 1940, and 1944 Games. Large boycotts during the Cold War limited participation in the 1980 and 1984 Games.

The Olympic Movement consists of international sports federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs), and organizing committees for each specific Olympic Games. As the decision-making body, the IOC is responsible for choosing the host city for each Olympic Games. The host city is responsible for organizing and funding a celebration of the Games consistent with the Olympic Charter. The Olympic program, consisting of the sports to be contested at the Games, is also determined by the IOC. The celebration of the Games encompasses many rituals and symbols, such as the Olympic flag and torch, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies. Over 13,000 athletes compete at the Summer and Winter Olympics in 33 different sports and nearly 400 events. The first, second, and third place finishers in each event receive Olympic medals: gold, silver, and bronze, respectively.

The Games have grown in scale to the point that nearly every nation is represented. Such growth has created numerous challenges, including boycotts, doping, bribery, and terrorism. Every two years, the Olympics and its media exposure provide unknown athletes with the chance to attain national, and in some cases, international fame. The Games also constitute a major opportunity for the host city and country to showcase themselves to the world.

Ancient Olympics

Modern Games

Forerunners

Revival

1896 Games

Main article: 1896 Summer Olympics

Changes and adaptations

Main article: Summer Olympic Games

Winter Games

Main article: Winter Olympic Games

Paralympics

Main article: Paralympic Games

Youth Games

Main article: Youth Olympic Games

21st-century games

Cost of the Games

See also: Cost of the Olympic Games

Economic and social impact on host cities and countries

International Olympic Committee

Main article: International Olympic Committee

Criticism

Commercialisation

Under national organising committees

Under IOC control

Budget

Effect of television

Controversy

Cost

Symbols

Main article Olympic symbols

Ceremonies

Main article: Olympic Games ceremony

Opening

Closing

Medal presentation

Sports

Main article: Olympic sports

Amateurism and professionalism

Team Canada

Controversies

Main article: Olympic Games scandals and controversies

Boycotts

Politics

Use of performance enhancing drugs

Main article: Use of performance-enhancing drugs in the Olympic Games

Russian doping scandal

Sex discrimination

Main article: Women at the Olympics

Terrorism and violence

Colonialism

Main article: Colonialism and the Olympic Games

Citizenship

IOC rules for citizenship

Reasons for changing citizenship

Citizenship changes and disputes

Champions and medallists

Further information: Lists of Olympic medallists and List of multiple Olympic gold medalists

Nations

Nations at the Summer Olympics

Main article: List of participating nations at the Summer Olympic Games

Nations at the Winter Olympics

Main article: List of participating nations at the Winter Olympic Games

Host nations and cities

Main article: List of Olympic Games host cities

See also: List of Olympic medals by host nation

See also

portal

Footnotes

References

Further reading

External links

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